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Viking Age SiteS in northern europe
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Viking Age sites
in nortHern eUrope
A trAnsnAtionAl seriAl nominAtion
to UnesCo´s World HeritAge list
Viking Age Sites in Northern Europe
A transnational serial nomination to UNESCO´s World Heritage List
January 2014
Editors: Agnes Stefánsdóttir and Matthias Malück
Photos on cover:
Hyllestad©Kim Søderstrøm/Jørgen Magnus
Þingvellir©Einar Á.E. Sæmundsen
Jelling©M. Dengsø Jessen
Fyrkat©J. Nørgaard
Hedeby©Archaeologisches Landesamt Schleswig-Holstein
Gokstad©Arve Kjersheim, Directorate of Cultural Heritage
Grobiņa©Juris Urtāns, State Inspection for Heritage protection of Latvia
Drawing of the Oseberg stem: ©Bjarte Aarseth, Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo
Photos: Source is given at individual photo
Cover and layout: Ágústa Ragnarsdóttir
Printed by: Prentmet
foreWord
Since the 19th century, when the Icelandic Sagas were launched on 4th February 2008, has been executed under
made available in translated and printed editions and the the leadership of the Ministry of Education, Science and
first Viking ships were unearthed, the Viking Age has been Culture in Iceland and coordinated by the Archaeologi-
an historical period of worldwide fascination. The Viking cal Heritage Agency (from 1st January 2013 the Cultural
Age has not only been crucially important in defining the Heritage Agency) of Iceland. The national cultural heri-
national heritage of Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Swe- tage agencies in each country have been in charge of the
den, the period has also been closely connected with the preparation of the nomination, in close cooperation with
development of the scientific discipline of archaeology in local authorities, organisations and experts. I also want to
Northern Europe. thank The Nordic World Heritage Foundation for its sup-
port and assistance during the whole process. The proj-
This nomination presents some of the most scientifical-
ect’s scientific advisory board deserves special mention as it
ly important sites from the Viking Age, considered to be
has played an important role in the project and constitutes
a vital part of the history of humanity. The transnational
the guarantee for the academic quality of the nomination.
serial property Viking Age Sites in Northern Europe con-
It is by this process that this document – Nomination of
sists of seven component parts located in the five countries
“Viking Age Sites in Northern Europe” for inscription
Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Latvia and Norway. Thus,
on the World Heritage List – was prepared according to
the component parts are from what is regarded as the core
the Operational Guidelines for the implementation of the
area of Scandinavian settlement during the Viking Age:
World Heritage Convention.
Scandinavia and the North Atlantic islands – comple-
mented by a component part from the area of interaction
It is a great honour for me, on behalf of the Government
with other cultural groups. All of the component parts are
of Iceland, to extend my sincere thanks to all the organi-
monumental archaeological sites or groups of sites dated
sations and their personnel who have contributed to this
to the 8th – 11th century AD, in other words the peri-
project with such zeal. Without this fruitful cooperation
od most commonly referred to as the “Viking Age” in the
it would not have been possible to produce and assemble
geo-cultural region of Northern Europe.
this documentation and submit it to the World Heritage
The five countries have worked closely together to prepare Centre. I hope that the nomination will result in a pos-
this document with the purpose of nominating this series itive decision with respect to the inscription of “Viking
of archaeological sites from the Viking Age for inscrip- Age Sites in Northern Europe“ on the World Heritage
tion on the World Heritage List. The project, which was List.
Illugi Gunnarsson
Minister of Education, Science and Culture
3
ACknoWledgements
tHe folloWing ContriBUtors to tHe prepArAtion of tHis doCUment Are
WArmly tHAnked
steering groUp AdVisory BoArd
Ragnheiður H. Þórarinsdóttir, Chair of the Steering Lars Christian Nørbach Phd, Chair of the Advisory Board,
Group, Adviser, Ministry of Education, Science and Director General, Nordjylland Historical Museum, Denmark
Culture, Iceland.
Dr. Jesse Byock, Professor, the Cotsen Institute of
Professor Claus von Carnap-Bornheim, Head of Archaeology, UCLA, USA
Department, State Archaeological Department of
Vésteinn Ólason Phd, professor emeritus, University
Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
of Iceland, former director of the Institute of Icelandic
Professor Stephan Opitz, Head of Section, Ministry for Studies and The Árni Magnússon Institute
Justice, Culture and European Affairs of the State of
Dr. Juris Urtāns, Dr.hist., Dr.habil.art. Archaeology and
Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
History division, State Inspection for Heritage protection
Lisen Roll, Senior Adviser, Directorate for Cultural Her- of Latvia
itage, Norway
Anne Pedersen Phd, Museum Curator, the National
Petter Koren, Senior Adviser, Directorate for Cultural Museum of Denmark
Heritage, Norway
Michael Kloos, Architect/Urban Planner, Institute for
Bolette Lehn Petersen, Architect M.A.A., Section for Ar- Urban and Regional Planning, RWTH Aachen University,
chitecture, Design and Crafts, Danish Agency for Culture Germany
Torben Dehn, Senior Advisor, Section for Ancient Gert Magnusson, Senior Adviser, the Swedish National
Monuments, Danish Agency for Culture Heritage Board
Juris Dambis, Dr.arch., Head of the State Inspection for Dr. Volker Hilberg, Foundation of Schleswig-Holstein
Heritage protection of Latvia State Museums Schloß Gottorf, Germany
Katrīna Kukaine, Deputy Head, Cultural Heritage Policy Professor Dagfinn Skre, Museum of Cultural History,
division, State Inspection for Heritage protection of Lat- University of Oslo, Norway (2009-2012)
via
Dr. Terje Gansum, Director, Cultural Heritage Manage-
Dr. Kristín Huld Sigurðardóttir, Vice-Chair, Director ment, Vestfold County Authority, Norway (2012 – 2014).
General, Cultural Heritage Agency of Iceland
Andras Mortensen Phd, director, Føroya Fornminnissavn,
Faroe Islands
Sigurdur Líndal Phd, professor emeritus, University of
Iceland
Dr. Patrick F. Wallace, Director of the National Museum
of Ireland
4
loCAl ContriBUtors projeCt offiCe
Einar Á.E. Sæmundsen, Þingvellir National Park, Iceland Agnes Stefánsdóttir, Section Director, Research and
Communication, Cultural Heritage Agency of Iceland
Anne-Christine Larsen, Trelleborg Museum/the National
(2011- )
Museum, Denmark
Solveig Hulsdunk Georgsdottir, specialist, Archaeological
Matthias Maluck, WH coordinator, State Archaeological
Heritage Agency of Iceland (2009-2010)
Department of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Dr. Ulf Ickerodt, Scientific Director, State Archaeological
editors
Department of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Karin Göbel, Foundation of Schleswig-Holstein State
Museums Schloß Gottorf, Germany
Agnes Stefánsdóttir, Section Director, section for Research
Jörg Nowotny, Foundation of Schleswig-Holstein State and Communication, Cultural Heritage Agency of Iceland
Museums Schloß Gottorf, Germany
Matthias Maluck, WH coordinator, State Archaeological
Dr. Martin Segschneider, State Archaeological Department of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Department of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Nis Hardt, Director, Danevirke Museum, Germany externAl AdVisors
Dr. Joachim Schulze, Foundation of Schleswig-Holstein
State Museums Schloß Gottorf, Germany
Ole Søe Eriksen, International Advisor, Nordic World
Dr. Sven Kalmring, Foundation of Schleswig-Holstein Heritage Foundation
State Museums Schloß Gottorf, Germany
Birgitta Hoberg, specialist advisor, Sweden
Dr. Irene Baug, WH coordinator, Section for Cultural
Dr. Christopher Young, specialist advisor, UK
Heritage, Sogn- and Fjordane County Authority, Norway
Dr. Árni Geirsson, Alta Consulting
Kjersti Løkken, WH coordinator, Cultural Heritage Man-
agement, Vestfold County, Norway (2011-12)
Dr. Herdis Hølleland, WH coordinator, Cultural Heritage
Management, Vestfold County Authority, Norway (2013-)
Jolanta Lubiņa, Grobiņa municipality, Latvia
5
tABle of Contents
foreword 5 protection and management
........................................................ 3
of the property
.......................................... 283
Acknowledgements
....................................... 4
5.a Ownership ........................................... 287
executive summary
....................................... 9 5.b Protective designation .......................... 289
5.c Means of implementing protective
1 identification of the property
.................... 37
measures ............................................... 293
2 description of Viking age sites
5.d Existing plans related to the
in northern europe
.................................. 63 municipality and region in which
the proposed component parts
2.a Description of the serial property ....... 65
are located ............................................ 305
2.b History and development ................... 129
5.e Property management plan or
other management system ................... 315
3 justification for inscription ...................... 169 5.f Sources and levels of finance ................. 327
5.g Sources of expertise and training in
3.1.a Brief synthesis ................................... 171
conservation and management
3.1.b Criteria under which inscription
techniques ............................................. 331
is proposed ........................................ 174
5.h Visitor facilities and infrastructure ....... 335
3.1.c Statement of integrity ....................... 177
5.i Policies and programmes related to
3.1.d Statement of authenticity .................. 185
the presentation and promotion of
3.1.e Protection and management the property ........................................ 340
requirements ..................................... 191
5.j Staffing levels and expertise
3. 2. Comparative analysis ......................... 193 (professional, technical, maintenance) ..... 347
3. 3. Proposed statement of Outstanding
Universal Value ................................. 246 6 monitoring
................................................. 351
6.a Key indicators for measuring state
4 state of conservation and factors
of conservation ................................... 353
affecting the property
............................... 251
6.b Administrative arrangements for
4.a Present state of conservation ............... 253 monitoring the property ..................... 361
4.b Factors affecting the property ............. 262 6.c Results of previous reporting exercises ... 363
6
7 documentation
......................................... 367
7.a Photographs, slides, image inventory
and authorisation table and other
audiovisual materials ............................. 369
7.b Texts relating to protective designation,
copies of property management plans
or documented management systems
and extracts of other plans relevant to
the property ........................................ 381
7.c Form and date of most recent records
or inventory of property ...................... 383
7.d Address where inventory, records and
archives are held ................................. 386
7.e Bibliography ........................................ 388
8 Contact information of responsible
authorities ...................................................
415
Preparer...................................................... 417
Official local institution/agency for
the nominated property ............................ 417
Official web address .................................. 417
Official local institutions for each
state party ................................................. 417
Contact information for individual sites .... 418
9 signatures on behalf of the states
parties
...................................................... 423
list of figures
................................................. 431
7
